A notorious criminal who was handed an extra nine months in jail after treating a judge to an offensive outburst has had his sentence cut - and finally apologised.

Sam Thomas Walker launched into a tirade against Judge Steven Everett, as he was handed 20 months at Liverpool Crown Court in July for a high-speed police car chase which began in Formby.

The 33-year-old, of no fixed address, was handed an extra nine months behind bars for contempt of court following his rant.

But that sentence was reduced yesterday to three months by top judges, who said they had the opportunity to review the term “quietly” and without the difficult circumstances Judge Everett was facing with at the time.

Lord Justice McCombe told the Court of Appeal, in London, that Walker had sent a letter of apology, which would be passed on to Judge Everett.

He said the judge was right to add on extra time for the outburst, as it amounted to a “serious affront to society”, but that the length of the term was “too long”.

Walker appeared contrite as he attended the hearing over a video link from HMP Preston, where he is serving his sentence.

Amongst other things, Walker said: “F***ing paedophiles don’t get jailed because you are just f***ing paedophiles yourselves, you judges.

“It’s only a matter of time before it comes out in public.”

Lord Justice McCombe said that, while “judges have broad shoulders”, Judge Everett was right to give him extra jail time, because disturbances like this affect the ability of courts to “administer justice and uphold the rule of law”.

Sitting with Mr Justice Wilkie and Mrs Justice Lavender, he added: “The law brings citzens together in stressful circumstances for many and it is imperative that proceedings are conducted calmly and quietly.

“The remarks of this appellant, as well as being grossly offensive to the judge, were a serious affront to society as a whole, and its collective attempt to administer justice.”

But he said that, having reviewed the sentence, it was “excessive” and reduced it by six months.